Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe chairman Tafadzwa Musarara responds to questions from the floor while permanent secretary in Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s office Thabani Ndlovu listens at a Bulawayo hotel last week during the Zimbabwe Food Conference and Expo

Business Editor
ZIMBABWE plans to import additional grain from South America to ensure food reserves last until the next harvesting season, an official has said.

At least 27 million people in Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries alone are in need of food aid — putting pressure on traditional export sources such as South Africa and Zambia.

The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairman, Tafadzwa Musarara, said plans were underway to import 980,000 metric tonnes of grain to avert starvation.

The government has already approved importation of 700,000 metric tonnes of maize, the bulk of which will come from Zambia.

However, Musarara told participants during the Bulawayo edition of the Zimbabwe Food Conference and Expo on Friday that Zambia alone would not cope with the regional demand.

“Zambia is already supplying DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe. We might not get much from South Africa because they also have a shortage.

“The government should allow industry to import additional maize from South America. Our plan is to import 980,000 metric tonnes,” said Musarara.

He said beefing up grain reserves needs to be hastened before the onset of the rainy season, which makes transport and logistics difficult and costly.

Musarara appealed to the government to facilitate speedy processing of import permits and other documents at border posts.

“We want the government to give us 10 months import permits instead of three months to enable us to mobilise funding. We also want a one stop centre for import and export permit processing and 24-hour border service in Chirundu for this period for trucks carrying maize,” he said.

Musarara said the 980,000 metric tonnes target would be enough to carry the country to the next harvesting season.

He said 240,000 metric tonnes of the import consignment would be used for stock feed with 40,000 metric tonnes channelled to brewery industries.

Musarara said while aid agencies would assist in the provision of nutrition support, they were also constrained by the regional deficit hence many had indicated they would provide cash instead of food.

Such an arrangement is underway in Binga where needy families will be given up to $35 monthly food allowances by Save the Children, a non-governmental organisation.

“This means our industries must be able to stock basic goods across the communities for people to buy.

“We feel this is a good idea for food processing firms and we need them to be ready,” he said.

During discussions, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) acting general manager, Lewis Mukwada, said his company was ready to provide transportation services to import grain.

He said the NRZ had already mobilised wagons to move cargo between Zimbabwe and Zambia and had transported 16,000 metric tonnes of maize for GMB.

Participants said Zimbabwe does not need food imports as its companies and farmers had the capacity to produce enough under normal circumstances.

They said processed food imports were responsible for the demise of local firms and loss of jobs.